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The number of reserved seats for Indigenous council members on New Zealand local authorities is set to be slashed by more than half, after a controversial law change that required municipal councils to submit the fate of hard-earned Māori seats to a popular referendum.

Background Information on Indigenous Representation

Indigenous electoral districts, which can include multiple councillors based on local population numbers, were created in 2001 to provide Indigenous voters the choice to elect a assured Māori representative in municipal and provincial governments. Initially, councils could only create a Māori ward by initially submitting it to a community referendum in their region. Local populations frequently spent years generating local support and urging their councils to create Indigenous representation.

Policy Changes and Administrative Decisions

To remedy the issue, the previous Labour government permitted municipal authorities to establish a Māori ward without initially mandating them to put it to a popular ballot.

However, this year, the current administration overturned the policy, stating communities should decide whether to introduce Indigenous representation.

Referendum Results

The coalition’s law change required local authorities that had established a ward under Labour’s rules to conduct decisive public votes alongside the municipal polls, which ended on 11 October. Out of 42 local governments taking part in the public vote, 17 voted to retain their wards, and twenty-five to disestablish theirs – showing many regions against reserved Indigenous seats.

The results represented “a crucial move in restoring local democratic control.”

Critics nevertheless have condemned the new policy as “racist” and “against Indigenous interests”. Since taking office, the coalition government has ushered in extensive reversals to policies designed to enhance Māori health, wellbeing and representation. Officials has said it aims to end “race-based” approaches, and says it is dedicated to enhancing results for Indigenous people and every citizen.

Urban-Rural Divide

The results of the public votes were divided down urban-rural lines – six of the seven cities required to vote backed Indigenous seats, while rural regions skewed heavily towards disestablishing them.

“It's unfortunate for the Indigenous seats that had only just come in – they’re only just starting to hit their stride.”

Voter Turnout and Concerns

This year’s municipal polls registered the lowest voter turnout in over three decades, with under one-third of eligible voters participating, leading to calls for an overhaul.

This approach had been “a mockery”.

Comparative Treatment

Local governments are able to establish different electoral districts – including rural wards – without first requiring a public vote. The different conditions applied to Māori wards indicated the government was singling out Indigenous inclusion.

“Ultimately, they were unsuccessful. Numerous localities have given the government a middle finger response.”

This statement concerned the 17 regions that voted to retain their wards.